Press Kit
My Life in Paragraphs: Find and Tell Your Stories
April Bell ~ Wisdom Story Alchemist
Your wisdom lives inside your stories!
Most people carry decades of lived experience without ever stopping to ask: What do my stories actually reveal about who I am?
I help people answer that question. I’ve spent nearly two decades guiding people across all walks of life—corporate leaders, community elders, young professionals, seasoned creatives—through my process of uncovering the origin stories behind their deepest-held values. This isn’t memoir or journaling, and you don’t need to be a writer to do it. It’s something more fundamental: a way of mining your own life for the wisdom you didn’t know you’d already earned.
My approach, rooted in values-based personal storytelling, gives people a foundation to stand upon in their careers, their relationships, and their sense of self. When you know why you believe what you believe, traced back to the real moments that shaped you, everything else gets clearer: how you lead, how you connect, how you show up.
And in a time when so much pulls us apart, I’ve seen firsthand that sharing our authentic, heartfelt stories is one of the most powerful ways to bring us back together.
I deliver this work through immersive workshops for organizations, leadership teams, and communities, and through my book My Life in Paragraphs: Find and Tell Your Stories. In 2013, my commitment to putting storytelling tools directly in people’s hands led me to co-create StoryCatcher® for iPhone—a video storytelling app built on the principle that your stories belong to you (zero data collection, ever). StoryCatcher® and my broader work have been featured in The New York Times, WIRED, USA Today, and Fox News.
Available for: Podcast appearances, media interviews, keynotes, panel discussions, and guest workshops.
Book Synopsis:
My Life In Paragraphs is for the “reluctant storyteller,” the person who doubts anybody cares to know the details of their lives, worries their personal stories don’t deserve to take up time, and yet, has gained invaluable insights whenever they’ve taken a moment to reflect.
This Book Can Help You:
- Communicate what you’ve held dear over the years—your most cherished values
- See what losses and gains shaped your life in meaningful ways
- Gain the skills and confidence to effectively share the stories you unearth
- Positively impact the lives of loved ones and strangers alike
What’s in This Book?
My Life In Paragraphs is centered on fifty-two thought-provoking story prompts. They’re arranged into four themes.
- Earth: Grounding and Values
- Air: Hopes and Dreams
- Fire: Passions and Motivations
- Water: Emotions
April guides you by the hand through these questions, and her one-paragraph-at-a-time method of storytelling that gathers momentum with each gentle step, no writing skills required.
For inspiration, you can read essays about the journey of others who overcame reluctance, dug into their stories, and found clarity they didn’t even know was missing.
The process will guide you to “your story.” You’ll arrive there with more ease than you ever imagined, and be amazed by its richness.
The second half of the book includes tips for crafting and sharing your story—so whether you “publish” in a conversation with a loved one, a handwritten note, or an iPhone app for capturing and sharing videos, you’ll know exactly what to do.
Book Details:
Title: My Life in Paragraphs: Find and Tell Your Stories
ISBN: 979-8-9886276-0-9 (paperback)
Publisher: Tree of Life Productions
Published: August 3, 2023
Language: English
Pages: 204 (paperback)
Weight: 0.644 lb (paperback)
Dimensions: 5.25 x 0.51 x 8 inches
Available in: Paperback
For Purchase: IngramSpark (paperback), and Amazon (paperback, hardback, Kindle)
Jon Soto
"As a creative director, I learned early on that brands that allow their audiences to feel safe, heard, intelligent and worthy are the ones people love most. April’s approach does all of this and her book is a great starting point for people to tell their stories with pride and grace."
“What a gift this beautiful book will be to the people lucky enough to read and act on it.”
-Bernadette Jiwa, bestselling author of Story Driven
“What April crafted guides you deeper and deeper and deeper into the story until you're face to face with the actual values you hold most dear. And that's the moment when you realize, ‘Oh, I see why this works.’”
—Dan Senter, spiritual leader
“I help musicians create stories with their instrumental songs - many of them also want to do the same with words, but get overwhelmed. These prompts are a fantastic tool for helping people get in touch with deep and interesting aspects of their lives right away. You can tell the author has done this for a long time because the prompts are very straightforward but powerful. In music, you have to learn a certain grammar to put together a meaningful piece. Similarly, these prompts offer a clear structure to build upon. I’ve read some other books on how to write, but they get bogged down in technicalities fast. Somehow, this book bypasses all of this and gets people opening up and communicating right away. It’s so elegant and fun to use!"
—Diana Rowan, professional musician and creativity teacher
“Leaders looking to cultivate trust, connection, and a vibrant work culture benefit from using the power of sharing stories that align with their values. I've found that by digging deep and sharing our own authentic stories, we can truly transform loyalty and productivity. April's book My Life in Paragraphs: Find and Tell Your Stories offers a solid roadmap to help you do just that. It's a useful tool for creating a lasting impact.”
—Mike Robbins, best-selling author of Bring Your Whole Self To Work
I bought this book for myself but enjoyed it so much that I ended up giving my copy to my dad for his birthday. What a great gift for a loved one. In my dad's case, I suggested he use the audio notes function on his phone to record his answers to the prompts, and then we can transcribe later into a little book! I found the book overall very inspirational and loved the opening chapters where the author shares about how reluctant storytellers can engage with the process... and learn to love it! Well done!
—Sandra Harris, author of Say Goodbye to Plastic: A Survival Guide to Plastic-Free Living
"I read a lot of storytelling books. And I am happy that I picked this book up. First of all, it's beautifully written and was very practical in giving me the how-to, and very easy-to-digest prompts to help unearth my stories. Not only was I informed, I am inspired. Loved it! ❤️”
—Enrika Greathouse, creative entrepreneur; founder of Small Gorilla Marketing
“A perfect book for a lot of different situations: Whether you’re a memoirist, journaler, fiction writer, or someone wanting to explore and make sense of your own life, this book will help. April’s introductory stories are engaging, compelling, and heartwarming. They reveal her expertise and her open-hearted humanity. (We all would enjoy being interviewed by her.) The questions she offers are rich [story] prompts. The book is beautiful as an object. Money well spent. A great gift for a loved one or yourself.”
—Michelle Spencer, writer/storyteller
"As a scientist, I've spent my life seeing stories in data; April's process has taught me to recognize the power in each individual human story. The prompts look deceptively simple but are truly thought-provoking. April’s "My Life in Paragraphs" framework is comprehensive, leaving you feeling like you've done a deep dive into the meaning and impact of your life and story.”
—Dr. Ann Blake, environmental scientist, changemaker, memoirist
“As a creative director, I learned early on that brands that allow their audiences to feel safe, heard, intelligent, and worthy are the ones people love most. April’s approach does all of this and her book is a great starting point for people to tell their stories with pride and grace.”
—Jon Soto, creative director
“You know how sometimes what happens in your life, you never really look at what you learned from it? The questions prompted me to really see what I learned, what my values were, and how I grew.”
—Carolyn Goto, workshop participant
“Wow! What a beautiful and practically useful book. It is written in such a clear and accessible way, that I can imagine using the prompts and process and came away with the motivation to explore my personal stories and those of others too.”
—Laurie Senter, educator
“Hearing story examples of what’s been important to other people helped me go further in my own thinking about what I want to pass on.”
—Steve Alparone, workshop participant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
April Bell
hello@aprilbell.com
(925) 465-1118
The Wisdom in Your Stories Isn’t Just for Elders Anymore
April Bell’s revised and expanded edition of ‘My Life in Paragraphs’ brings values-based personal storytelling to leaders, professionals, and anyone ready to discover what their stories reveal about who they truly are.
“Your wisdom lives inside your stories.” That’s the core belief behind April Bell’s work and her book, My Life in Paragraphs: Find and Tell Your Stories.
Over the years, Bell has facilitated this work across a wide range of settings—from philanthropic organizations exploring why donors give, to financial planners helping clients define their intangible legacy, to communities and families preserving the stories that matter most. Through all of it, she’s seen the same truth confirmed: the origin stories behind our values shape how we lead, how we earn trust, and how we connect—whether at a dinner table or in a boardroom. The revised and expanded edition of the book reflects that fuller vision, speaking directly to professionals and leaders alongside the communities who first embraced the work.
“When professionals learn to share their personal stories at work, something meaningful happens,” Bell writes. “Instead of just presenting data or strategies, they share the values and experiences that have shaped their thinking. Trust deepens, connections grow, and authentic leadership naturally emerges.”
The revised edition broadens the book’s scope while staying true to its heart. At its core are fifty-two thought-provoking story prompts organized into four themes—Earth (Grounding and Values), Air (Hopes and Dreams), Fire (Passions and Motivations), and Water (Emotions). Bell’s one-paragraph-at-a-time method requires no writing skills and builds momentum with each step, making it accessible to even the most reluctant storyteller.
And in a time when genuine human connection matters more than ever, Bell’s work points to something quietly powerful: sharing our authentic, heartfelt stories is one of the most natural ways we find our way back to each other.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
“What April crafted guides you deeper and deeper into the story until you’re face-to-face with the actual values you hold most dear. And that’s the moment when you realize, ‘Oh, I see why this works.’”—Dan Senter, spiritual leader
“You know how sometimes what happens in your life, you never really look at what you learned from it? The questions prompted me to really see what I learned, what my values were, and how I grew.”—Carolyn Goto, workshop participant
“Hearing story examples of what’s been important to other people helped me go further in my own thinking about what I want to pass on.”—Steve Alparone, workshop participant
“Leaders looking to cultivate trust, connection, and a vibrant culture benefit from using the power of sharing stories that align with their values. April’s book offers a solid roadmap. It’s a useful tool for creating a lasting impact.”—Mike Robbins, bestselling author of Bring Your Whole Self To Work
BEYOND THE BOOK:
Bell’s work extends well beyond the page. She leads immersive values-based storytelling workshops for organizations, leadership teams, community groups, and individuals. She is also the co-creator of StoryCatcher® for iPhone—a privacy-first video storytelling app (zero data collection) that has been empowering people to capture and share personal stories since 2013. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, WIRED, USA Today, and Fox News.
My Life in Paragraphs (revised 2025) is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and with most book resellers.
For interviews or review copies, please contact:
April Bell
hello@AprilBell.com
(925) 465-1118
AprilBell.com • StoryCatcher.app
ABOUT APRIL BELL:
As a child, April spent her days listening to stories from whichever elder neighbor would have her. More recently, she’s built a practice around helping people across all walks of life—corporate leaders, community elders, young professionals, seasoned creatives—uncover the origin stories behind their deepest-held values.
Her approach, rooted in values-based personal storytelling, gives people a foundation to stand on—in their careers, their relationships, and their sense of self. She is the founder of Tree of Life Legacies, a storytelling and wisdom-keeping practice based in the San Francisco Bay Area, co-creator of StoryCatcher® for iPhone, and the author of My Life in Paragraphs: Find and Tell Your Stories.
What’s your story?
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download .docx
Interview Prompts for Journalists and Podcast Hosts:
My passion lies in illustrating how personal storytelling can forge deep connections, inspire authenticity, and foster meaningful engagement in personal and professional contexts. The interview questions below explore three key areas: Connecting with Audience, Embracing Authenticity and Vulnerability, and Storytelling Techniques/Applications.
The proposed questions seek to uncover insights into the profound impact of our personal narratives. They also examine the challenges and benefits inherent in authentic storytelling. Finally, they outline practical strategies for individuals and organizations to harness the power of their unique stories.
Connecting with Readers and Audience
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How do you think people will connect with telling their stories one paragraph at a time, and what impact do you hope your book will have?
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What’s the key to engaging listeners when sharing personal stories, whether one-on-one, in groups, or on video?
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How did you overcome your own fears of sharing your authentic stories?
- How do you initiate conversations that lead to genuine connection?
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How can sharing personal stories deepen connections between individuals; communities?
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How is personal storytelling used to cultivate empathy?
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How does embracing vulnerability in personal storytelling foster more meaningful connections?
Embracing Authenticity and Vulnerability
- Your book encourages readers to find and tell their authentic stories. Embracing authenticity can sometimes be challenging. What were some challenges you’ve faced, and how did you overcome them?
- What’s the importance of authenticity in personal storytelling?
- Sharing personal stories can be a vulnerable experience. How do you navigate the emotions that come with sharing personal stories?
- How has the process of exploring your own life in paragraphs impacted you?
- When sharing personal stories, there’s a fine line between being open and maintaining privacy. How do you find the balance between transparency and honoring personal boundaries?
- People come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. How does pesonal storytelling narrow the gap?
Storytelling Techniques and Applications
- What are some specific techniques to help people find and tell their stories?
- What creative challenges come up while working on a personal story? How do you overcome them?
- For people inspired by your book, what advice would you give them as they embark on their own storytelling journey?
- Where does personal storytelling fit in at work? What benefits can it bring to professionals?
- How can professionals use personal storytelling when talking to their teams or customers?
- How can personal storytelling be leveraged to promote diversity and inclusion within organizations?
QUESTIONS ON STORYCATCHER® FOR iPHONE
- What inspired you to create StoryCatcher for iPhone? Was there a specific need or gap in the market that you wanted to address?
- How does StoryCatcher® fit into the broader landscape of your ‘My Life in Paragraphs’ framework?
- In what way does StoryCatcher® for iPhone benefit storytellers?
- Data collection is a big concern for many users. How does StoryCatcher® approach user privacy?
- How do StoryCatcher’s key features set it apart from other similar apps in the market?
- Are there any upcoming features or updates users can look forward to?
Podcast guest samples:
Michael Averill + April Bell
Discovering Your Soul + April Bell
Tech It Out + StoryCatcher
– StoryCatcher® In The News –
Author Bio:
As a child, April spent her days listening to stories from whichever elder-neighbor would have her. More recently, she’s crafted her story-mining process into book form with My Life in Paragraphs: Find and Tell Your Stories. As her storytelling focus lends toward the spoken word, people daunted by writing love her approach. She leads engaging story-mining and wisdom-keeping workshops for professionals and elders alike.
She is the founder at Tree of Life Legacies, a storytelling and wisdom-keeping project based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2008, she’s been helping people find and tell the origin stories behind their values, often on video. She is co-creator of StoryCatcher® for iPhone.
What’s your story?
Contact Information:
Email: hello@aprilbell.com
Phone: (925) 465-1118
Media Downloads & Links:
My Life in Paragraphs ~ Book
cover art
Companion Notebook
cover art
Companion Notebook
cover art
click image to download RBG photo – click here for CMYK
Links
